I’m missing the match days and having the opportunity to record the game and the atmosphere with my camera. We are currently in different times with the uncertainty that surrounds when fans will be allowed back into stadiums to watch live football given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
But, I would like to share some photographic highlights of previous matches as we play each team this season and hopefully you will find these posts interesting. Also I’ll be restarting the In Focus and Through the Lens series, which I hope you will all enjoy as well.
Our opening season defeat to Newcastle continues the poor form we have against the Magpies that was all too evident last season in the 2-3 defeat at London Stadium that continued a five game stretch without a Premier League win at that time.
A very poor first half handed Newcastle the game as the team went into the dressing room 2-0 down and despite a late rally in the second half with Balbuena and Snodgrass both scoring we never looked like scraping even a draw and were lucky not to have lost by a greater margin.
As is typical teams who have struggled to score seem to find the back of the net with ease when they come to London Stadium and Clark, Fernandez and Shelvey all got onto the score sheet that helped Newcastle climb away from the relegation zone to within a point of the Hammers.
Snodgrass made a rallying call in his post match interview stating it was a reality check that the players needed to end their poor form and get back to where the team had started the season. Pellegrini was perplexed by the poor performance saying we had been pressing high in previous matches. There were opportunities in the first half but we lacked ideas in the final third of the pitch as the Magpies dominated the first half.
But we were by that time without Fabianski and Jimenez’s form in goal was a growing cause for concern, especially when he should have stopped Shelvey’s free kick from creeping in the net. By then fans had been streaming out of the stadium. The poor form started away against League One side Oxford United and we now play Charlton Athletic in the second round of the Carabao Cup. Lets hope we are not going to repeat a similar run of form this season.
West Ham United climbed to 5th in the Premier League after a convincing 2-0 win against the Canaries, who suffered their 3rd defeat since returning to the top flight, at the London Stadium. Then manager, Manuel Pellegrini hailed Haller as the complete player after he scored twice against Watford before giving the Hammers the lead from close range at home on 24th minute from a Masuaku cross.
“He scores goals but works a lot for the team as well. He will continue improving in every game.” Pellegrini said following the match.
“Sebastien is a complete player.”
Yarmalenko doubled the Hammers lead with a volley after newly promoted and struggling Norwich failed to clear their lines and completed a turn around from the opening day 5-0 defeat to then Champions Manchester City. It seemed as if the new season would see West Ham fair better than last seasons troubled start to the campaign, with a performance to inspire confidence amongst the vociferous home support.
It looked as if the team were in a much better shape than 12 months ago and there was plenty of reason for optimism after a draw with Brighton, win against Watford, Carabao Cup victory over Newport County and another home win against Norwich City.
Although teams in the bottom third of the table after 5 games would pretty much remain there, no-one could have imagined the fall that would happen as David Moyes took over the reigns on 29th December 2019 with the Hammers down in 17th in the league struggling with form, particularly after a series of injuries to key players.
A reminder of better times from a season that was impacted by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions and where the Hanners, under Moyes stewardship secured Premier League status by the skin of our teeth with only two games remaining.
Lets hope the coming season will be quite different.
The 83rd FA Cup final took place at Wembley Stadium on 2nd May 1964 between West Ham United and Preston North End. The Hammers, captained by Bobby Moore and managed by Ron Greenwood has seen off Charlton Athletic, Leyton Orient – although through a replay, Swindon and Burnley in the previous rounds to earn a semi final place against Manchester United at Hillsborough on 14th March of that year. The Hammers first semi final appearance for 31 years.
The Hammers came away 3-1 winners to set up the final with Preston North End, who had beaten Swansea Town in the other semi final at Villa Park. In front of a 65,000 crowd the Hammers were the underdogs playing against the stars of Man United that included George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law. Much has been said about the state of the pitch for the game with the headline ‘Boyce is Hero of Cup Mudbath’, but no one can argue with Boyce’s performance and of the Hammers defence against the Division 1 Champions, scoring his only brace for the club.
Ronnie Boyce had put the Hammers 2-0 before Denis Law gave Manchester a life line by scoring against Jim Standen, whom he had collided with earlier. But with West Ham pouring forward, the match was sealed through a Geoff Hurst goal to take them through to the final against Preston North End. Greenwood booked the team a dinning carriage for the return journey on the train to London, but for plenty of Hammers fan to crowd in a join them. Sir Geoff Hurst recalls “My best memory of the successful FA Cup run was beating Manchester United 3-1 in the semi-final at Hillsborough.”
But the Hammers, now favourites to win against second Division Preston North End, found themselves behind twice during an exciting match played out in front of a packed Wembley Stadium. 10mins in Preston went ahead after a short passing move between Kendall and Lawton that found Dawson who put in a low cross that Standen fumbled for winger Doug Holden to have an easy shot on goal. It was a deserved lead but lasted just a minute and with the Hammers pressing for an equaliser saw a great one two between Sissons and Budgie Byrne. Sissons collected the pass and fires a shot from inside the Preston penalty area beyond the diving Alan Kelly to make it 1-1.
But Dawson was to gain the advantage for Preston just before the break from a Wilson corner that left both Standen and Brown stranded as Dawson fired in a header to make it 2-1. The second Division side were clearly pushing for a win and we can only imagine what the changing room was like for the West Ham players as Greenwood looked to send them out for the second half for an historic victory.
52 minutes into the match and the Hammers are back on level terms as Bradbrook’s right wing corner for Brown to out jump Dawson and head the ball on to Hurst, whose own looping header hits the crossbar and rebounds off keeper Kelly and rolls in to the net to make it 2-2. This sets up a tense finale to the game where the next goal would settle the game.
On 90 minutes, the match looking as if it will go to extra time, saw the Hammers players pushed for a winner, despite their tired legs. Standen’s goal kick found Hurst in the Preston North End half, taking the ball diagonally Hurst finds Brabrook who sent in an absolutely perfect cross to the far post where Boyce timed his run to meet the ball and head in the winning goal.
Hurst again recalls “Ronnie Boyce, one of our midfielders, who rarely scored, got two in the semi-final and the winner in the Final against Preston North End. I got the equaliser in the Final to make it 2-2, when the ball hit the bar and crept over the line. A rehearsal for what was to happen two years later back at Wembley!”
West Ham’s first FA Cup final win was commemorated with a parade with the streets lined with celebrating fans as an open topped coach carried the players through Plaistow via Balam Street, along Barking Road, up High Street North, then Romford Road before turning into Green Street and on to the Boleyn Ground.
The Hammers were to return to Wembley the following year to play 1860 Munich in the final of the European Cup Winners Cup securing a 2-0 victory.
There are plenty of excellent images form this game but this is also a great image of Hurst scoring the equaliser at Wembley. There must have been several shots of this, but I really like how Geoff’s head is visible beyond the hand of the defenders as he comes back down from rising above everyone. His eyes fixed on where the ball is going. Another great composition as you have three bands running across the frame – the stadium at the top packed with fans, the players scattered across the frame and the pitch below that balances well with the stadium. The balls creates that visual dynamic and you just know that it is goal bound without seeing the goal posts. Great shot that captures that split second moment before the crowd cheer and the players celebrate a few seconds later.
Haller, born on 22nd June 1994, having risen through the ranks at Auxerre made his professional debut on 27th July 2012 in the teams opening league match of the 2012-13 season.
On 24th December 2014, Haller had moved to Dutch Eredivisie side FC Utrecht, initially on loan and then being signed at the end of the season. Haller was voted winner of the Di Tommaso Trophy in 2015 by the supporters – Utrecht’s player of the year award.
By the time Sebastien had signed for Eintracht Frankfurt on 15th may 2017, he had scored 33 goals from 77 appearances, including 15 league goals and 9 assists during the 2018-19 Bundesliga season. Hailed as a goal machine during his time in the Bundesliga, Frankfurt team mate Jonathan de Guzman said after Haller’s point saving contribution against Nuremburg “Bringing in Haller, obviously gives you a bit more strength up front. He can hold the ball, he is big and he showed his quality.”
Haller has been compared to French attacking great David Trezeguet being of similar height and style of play, holding the ball up and setting up teammates if they have a clearer path to goal. Sebastian can score with both feet and is apparently skilled at over head kicks, winning goal of the year in the 2017 season.
Haller then signed for West Ham United on 17th July 2019 for a record fee of £45m on a 5 year deal. Seen as a statement of intent from the club, along with the signings of Anderson, Diop and Fornals. Sebastian definitely came with a great reputation for being a handful and bullying defenders with his physicality. Said to be a highly intelligent player, unselfish and capable of bringing the best of other players around him and also a prolific goalscorer it looked as if Pellegrini was putting together a top six challenging team, certainly some football commentators were suggesting West Ham would be in a battle for European places this season.
After 6 games West Ham stood 5th in the league, above Spurs, Chelsea and Man U and equal on points with Arsenal and only 2 points and 2 places from the top 3. As we know, from the end of September our season imploded and we are left fighting for our Premier League status before the season was put on hold in March this year. At that point, Haller had scored 3 goals, including a brace away to Watford. By the time the season was suspended Haller had scored 7 goals with 1 assist, with 25 shots on target.
Haller said of his move to London Stadium “I thought a lot about European football. I wanted it. But in a career, you have to take everything into account. You have to think holistically. And West Ham was a real opportunity.”
Sebastian also said “The thought of playing in front of 60,000 here was a big attraction, it’s the thing that can push you to give 10 per cent more in every game. As long as the fans are here supporting the team, it’s great.”
But there are reports that Haller has not settled in London with his son, who was born soon after arriving in London having health issues that both he and his wife are struggling with. Previously Haller has been at his best as part of a two or three man striker partnership, whereas at West Ham he is often in an unfamiliar long striker role. Maybe the pressure of being the clubs record signing and there being no real striker back up if he is injured. This has fuelled rumours that the club are looking to offload the striker, even if his value has dropped, as Moyes evaluates what he needs for next season.
Haller has his critics, but has he become another expensive mistake in the clubs rather chaotic transfer policy? What do we think? Is there any truth to the rumours? Sometimes players take time to settle in the Premier League and of course there is the pressure – has the club done enough to support Haller? Will we see him pull on the claret and blue at the restart of football?
Alvin Martin scores a hat-trick against 3 different goalkeepers in a memorable match in the chase for the Division 1 league title during the 1985/86 season.
In April 1986, West Ham United, managed by John Lyall, were still in the race for the 1st Division league title and their season had been one of the best so far in the top flight. With a strike force of McAvennie and Cottee who scored 26 and 20 goals each throughout the season, which also included a run of 9 consecutive wins. Frank McAvennie had signed in the summer from St Mirren and Mark Ward from Oldham, the Hammers were pushing both Liverpool and Everton down to the wire for the league title. Martin himself says that “We were always accused of being too nice. Those signings of McAvennie and Ward made us a little angry.”
But the final run in for the end of the season had been impacted by the severe weather over the Winter months, restricting the Hammers to playing just 4 league games between Boxing Day and March. Due to the fixture congestion, the Hammers were faced with 9 games in 29 days throughout April, winning seven of them including the unique match against Newcastle United on 21st April 1986.
It wasn’t just the scoreline that made this such a memorable game, but the fact that Martin achieved his hat-trick against 3 different goalkeepers. The Magpies regular keeper Mark Thomas had suffered an injury during the season and loan signing David McKeller joined from Hibernian to cover, but he had also sustained an injury. Thomas had returned to the side for their trip to Upton Park which Martin says “Of the 586 games I played for West Ham, this is the one people always come back to, and they all say they were there.”
Newcastle were tenth in the league at the time but as underdogs, surely they would not have expected to be torn apart by a team playing some of the most breathtakingly free flowing attacking football that has been witnessed at Upton Park. The Hammers came out of the blocks like a team possessed pushing the Magpies back and forcing errors in defence. Hedworth brought down Orr and Devonshire’s free kick found Martin who volleyed the ball home on the 3rd minute of the game.
By half time the Hammers were racing away with a 4-0 lead and the pick of the goals came from Orr’s 30 yard drive that flew into the net. As if it could not get worse for Newcastle, Thomas’ injured shoulder was sore and he did not return to the pitch after half time, instead Hedworth came on to go between the sticks in only his fourth first team appearance. After being powerless to stop Martin’s headed second goal from Ward’s right wing corner in the 64th minute, Hedworth was lead off the field with a broken collar bone after a challenge from Cottee.
In comes Peter Beardsley to put on the keepers gloves and see out the rest of what proved to be a thorough thrashing from the Hammers. Despite being in line to earn his fourth cap for England in the upcoming match against Scotland at Wembley, Beardsley’s short comings in goal were cruelly exposed. Martin’s final goal for his hat-trick was from the penalty sport after Roeder had handled the ball. Magpies managed a consolation goal from Billy Whitehurst, goals from Ray Stewart, Glenn Roeder – own goal, Frank McAvennie and Paul Goddard secured an 8-1 victory that took the Hammers above Manchester United on goal difference.
In the end, West Ham lost out on 2nd place in the final game of the campaign losing 3-1 to Everton after Liverpool had won the title on the previous final Saturday of the season. At West Ham, Martin says there were no regrets. ‘We didn’t throw it away, we were just behind a brilliant Liverpool team.’ West Ham won the next four matches after beating the Magpies at Upton Park, but so did Liverpool. In the previous season the Hammers had finished 16th so coming third was quite a marked improvement.
Surely a game that will live long in the memory of those who were there, both on the pitch and in the stands.
Mark Noble was born on 8th May 1987 in Canning Town and played for Barking Colts before moving to Arsenal’s academy at 11 years of age. Known as Mr West Ham, Mark has played almost all of his youth and senior playing career at West Ham United, apart from two short loan spells at Hull City and Ipswich Town in 2006.
Noble made his senior team debut aged just 17 in the League Cup against Southend United in August 2004, helping the Hammers to a 2-0 victory. But Noble had to wait until January 2005 before making his first appearance in the league in a 4-2 defeat away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship.
Mark has played for England at U16, U17, U18, U19 and U21 levels but has not been capped for the full international side in his career so far. Noble rejected a call up to the Republic of Ireland squad, qualifying due to his grandparents being both Cork born. Mark said “There are young Irish kids playing well that deserve and would appreciate an Irish cap more than I would.” He went on to explain that he has played for England throughout the age groups and although he hasn’t secured a senior place, he just couldn’t turn up to play for Ireland without it having been a dream of his.
Noble has won Hammer of The Year Award twice and promotion to the Premier League twice putting in over 470 first team appearances for the Hammers as well as being the first West Ham player to play in 300 Premier League games. Noble scored in his 300th game from the penalty spot against Stoke City. In our final year at the Boleyn, Mark had a testimonial in March 2016 and was the last player to captain the side at the Boleyn ground in a 3-2 win against Manchester United.
There have been calls for Noble to be dropped from the team and he describes the 2016-17 season as his most difficult period playing for West Ham. HIs season finished early in 2017 when he needed to have an abdominal operation. But not before he had played 35 games in all competitions and scoring 5 goals. Noble has scored some important goals for the team, in particular a volley from the edge of the area against Leicester City on 5th May in a 2-0 to secure Premier League survival. This was the same season Mark grabbed a protester who ran onto the London Stadium pitch in the 0-3 defeat against Burnley.
Noble began this season missing the first two matches with injury, returning to score a penalty against Watford in a 3-1 win and some have said that he was playing some of the best football of his career. It was said at a time when the Hammers sat 5th in the league under Pellegrini having lost just 1 match in the first seven games. Noble is a firm favourite with many fans and previous managers have spoken about the qualities that Mark brings to the team with his professionalism, enthusiasm and dedication to the team on and off the field. A stand out moment was Noble’s pass to Anderson for the first goal against Manchester United at London Stadium on 22nd September that set Yarmolenko up to score. Noble’s awareness to pause, draw defenders with a feinted turn and pass the ball inside instead of wide. Since then the season imploded with the injury to Fabianski and defeat against Oxford United in the EFL Cup.
What does Noble bring to the team? How many more seasons can he offer West Ham at this level and what role can he play, particularly with younger players, as his career inevitably draws to a close? Noble is one of my favourite players, you can see how much he wears his pride of playing for the club and his connection with the fans and key role within the team, especially when the season as difficult as this one that has yet to be completed, cannot be denied.
Following on from their FA Cup victory against Preston North End, Greenwood’s West Ham United entered the European Cup Winners Cup. The competition was in its infancy having started in 1960/61, it was the perfect opportunity for Greenwood to pit his team against some fo the best teams in Europe. How would Greenwood’s team playing ‘the West Ham way’ do against European opposition?
In the first round the Hammers played La Gantoise of Belgium in Ghent and came up against a team who sat back to frustrate their more free flowing football style. But, Boyce secured a vital away victory with an early goal in the second half. La Gantoise continued their defensive tactics in the second leg and managed to take the lead after Martin Peters put the ball into his own net. Johnny Byrne scored the equaliser just before half time and the Hammers progressed after a 1-1 draw securing a 2-1 aggregate advantage.
The second round saw the Hammers drawn against Sparta Prague, without captain Bobby Moore who was recovering from a groin injury. Prague stifled the Hammers with their man marking but John Bonds 25 yard strike eased the team into playing a more natural game to see the first leg through 2-0 after Sealey got himself onto the score sheet.
In the second leg Sparta, who were league leaders, pushed forward forcing West Ham back in the early stages, but the Hammers caught their hosts on the break and Johnny Sissons put them ahead. Sparta did not give up and continued to push forward, managing to get a disputed penalty saved by Jim Standen and scoring 2 goals to leave a tense finish to the tie.
Moore returned for the knockout stages of the competition against Lausanne of Switzerland, brimming with international players and Greenwood relished the opportunity to pit his team against what was pretty much the Swiss national side. Injury to Eddie Bovington lead to the selection of Dears, who retained his place for the rest of the season. Dear put the Hammers 1-0 up on the 21st minute and a Byrne solo effort doubled their lead. Robert Hosp game the hosts some hope going into the second leg at Upton Park.
The second leg saw both teams come out of the blocks as West Ham tried to finish the game off and Sparta looking to get back into the tie. And indeed they did when Kerkoff headed in the equaliser to leave the game nervously poised. The Hammers lead was restored when Eli Tacchella scored an own goal. The Swiss were not going to give and on 49th minute when Hertig scored leaving the Hammers to soak up the pressure.
Peters made it 3-2 on the hour with a header to send the crowd roaring but the tie was still to play out. Eschmann’s over head kick put the Swiss back in the match until Dear finally settled the match a minute before the final whistle. The game was finally over and will live long in the memories of those who watched such an amazing and exhilarating match, even for the neutral observer.
West Ham played Real Zaragoza of Spain in the next round, already the holders of the Inter Cities Fair Cup and having found the net 15 times int he competition so far. The first leg was at Upton Park, with Dear and Byrne putting the Hammers 2-0 before the visitors grabbed an away goal through Brazilian Canario. Would this be enough for West Ham to secure a win on the away leg?
Sealey replaced Byrne, who picked up an injury playing in the England-Scotland match. Byrne had been a crucial player in the cup run so far. Zargoza’s pressure, despite West Ham defending well could not stop Lapetra scoring an important goal that left the tie level at 2-2. West Ham managed to come through the match and secure a 3-2 aggregate win when Johnny Sessions scored to equal the tie and meet 1860 Munich in the final at Wembley.
In a pulsating final, with both teams going close as play went from end to end, the first half ended 0-0, but did not lack any entertainment and produced an exciting match. There was still much to play for in the second half. But Sealey was to seal his name in the history books of West Ham with two goals that put the game beyond their opponents. Ronnie Boyce perfect pass set up Sealey for his first goal and two minutes later another from a Moore pass that hit Peters and fell to Sealey to win the Cup for the Hammers.
The photo shows Sealey slotting the ball home at close range. I love this photo, the composition is excellent and it has all the key elements to capture a moment that will live long in memory. The depth fo field really helps to focus on Sealey as your eye is led into the frame from the byline and then you notice the details – the tufts of grass around the players feet, the packed crowd behind in the stands and the concentration on Sealy’s face as the white blur of the ball heads towards the back of the net. Its a classic photographic composition that as a photographer you’d be ready to shot and would have set up and shot loads of times during the game hoping to catch a telling shot or save.
Sadly for Sealey, a broken leg suffered from an accident at the training grounds meant he was restricted to playing just five more times for West Ham before moving to Plymouth Argile in 1967. Sealy passed away in 1996 aged just 53.
John McDowell, was born on 5th September 1951, East Ham, London and played for both West Ham United and Norwich City during his professional playing career.
McDowell began his career as an apprentice with Hammers youth team and made an appearance for the England youth side before playing 13 international matches at under-23 level between 1972-74.
McDowell was a Hammers first team regular for almost 10 years at right back after Bonds switched to midfield. Making his league debut in October 1970 against Blackpool McDowell made 249 appearances for the Hammers, scoring 8 goals.
Versatile and talented defender who was powerful in the tackle, McDowell formed a central defensive partnership with Frank Lampard until John suffered a knee injury that forced him to miss most of the 1976-77 season. Failure to secure a regular, first team spot after this injury led to a £20,000 transfer to Norwich for whom he made 45 appearances, scoring once.
John McDowell and Bobby Moore West Ham United in League One match at Upton Park in 1972 against Manchester United. The match ended 2-2 with Robson scoring a brace for the Hammers and George Best and Ian Storey-Moore scoring for the Man Utd.
McDowell in 1972.
Martin Peters scores against Hammers at White Hart Lane.
McDowell in 1973.
Panini defined a generation of football fans with their sticker collections that began in 1970 with a partnership with FIFA for the Mexico World Cup. Then in the ‘80s it seemed that everyone was collecting the stickers to fill the albums of the teams in the old First Division. Here is McDowell’s Panini sticker for 1973
8th September 1973. West Ham captain Bobby Moore has Tottenham striker Alan Gilzean in giggles and team mate John McDowell smirking. The Hammers lost 1-0 at Upton Park with Matin Chivers scoring the only goal for Spurs.
McDowell here during West Ham’s 1-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 27th September 1975
With interest rumoured to be from Chelsea to acquire the services of Declan Rice, I thought it would be a good opportunity to focus on him in this post. Born on 14th January 1999 in Kingston Upon Thames, Rice joined the academy of Chelsea in 2006, being released in 2014 and joining academy of West Ham at the age of 14.
Rumours are rumours until they actually happen, but many people who occupy the seats where I sit understand that for Rice’s career to really blossom, he will need to leave West Ham. The main reason for this resignation is that the club have no ambition to progress in any meaningful way to the next level.
This season has shown what that club’s lack of ambition has led to with fan protests outside, and to some extent within the ground and much online, as the team struggled to perform on the pitch.
Much has been made of the sacking of Pellegrini but there have been issues with injuries to key players that have had an impact on form, but many have highlighted the ongoing problems with West Ham’s scouting network and transfer policy that have been a feature of much criticism over many seasons, and particularly since the take over of the club by the current owners.
Rice has struggled this season to produce what we know he can on the pitch – those timely tackles, breaking up of play and at times pin point passes that can put the team into a powerful forward movement that creates opportunities. Declan is a tall, strong and versatile player who is comfortable playing at centre back and in a defensive midfield role who seems to have settled comfortably into the first team since his debut against Burnley in the final game of the 2016/17 season. The following season of course saw Rice as running up for HOTY. And who can forget his first goal for West Ham against Arsenal 2 days before his birthday on 12th January 2019.
Despite this seasons form, and Rice is certainly not the only player who has failed to perform on the pitch, but he will surely be seen by Moyes as a key player with his deal running until 2024. But with the current situation, clubs like ours may be forced to part with players to balance the books. Rice is definitely a fans favourite and he has a great connection with the fans which you can see when he always stops on his way out of the stadium to sign autographs and talk to those waiting, but also the results visibly affect him and he will always come over to fans at the end of the match to thank everyone before leaving the pitch.
We do not know what the rest of the season will hold for us, and the impact of the lockdown is yet to be fully understood, but as a club going forward we surely must retain our best players for when the sport returns, otherwise we will find ourselves struggling again to retain our status in the top flight.
Ricardo Vaz Te scores an 87th minute winner against Blackpool in the Football League Championship Play Off Final at Wembley on 19th May 2012 to secure promotion to the Premier League.
During the build up to the 2012 London Olympics, where the Olympic Stadium was to eventually become the home ground for the Hammers, West Ham United guided by Sam Allardyce, had overcome Cardiff City in the two legged play offs to secure their place in the final after ending the season in 3rd place, just 2 points behind Southampton in 2nd place and 3 points behind Champions Reading.
Allardyce signed a 2 year contract on 1st June 2011 on the back of West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League, and he vowed to play attractive football in the traditions of West Ham, denying claims that his teams played dull, long ball football.
Sam certainly made some key signings bringing in Nolan, Diop, O’Brien, McCartney, Baldock and Carew but it wasn’t until the Winter transfer window that Allardyce secured Vaz Te, along with Ravel Morrison. Over the course of the season, 25 players left the club and 19 new players were signed.
Born on 1st October 1986, Portuguese Vaz Te went on to score 19 goals in 61 appearances for West Ham, including a hat trick on 21st February 2012 in a 4-1 win against Blackpool. Vaz Te transferred to Turkish side Akhisar Belediyespor during the Winter transfer window of 2015, after making only 5 first team appearances under Allardyce.
Blackpool came in to the final on the back of a good run of results in the league, but Carlton Cole put the Hammers in front on 35 minute to see the team go into half time with the advantage. Then in 48th minute, Thomas Ince, son of former Hammers midfielder Paul, equalised and set up an exciting end to the second half with both teams stretched in an end to end match as they trying to secure the winner.
Both teams had wasted good opportunities to score the winner with Blackpool’s Dobbie missing a brilliant chance from 14 yards when completely unmarked and Hammers skipper Kevin Nolan’s excellent volley crashing against the woodwork.
It looked as if the game would go to extra time until the 87th minute when the unmarked Ricardo drilled the ball into the net from 12 yards after it had slipped out of Blackpool keeper Gilks’ hands with Vaz Te in the right place to break the Seasiders hearts and secure £50m promotion back into the Premier League. The first team since Leicester in 1996 to bounce straight back into the Premier League through the play off finals.
From the Stands 